The Hospital in Ellwood City
Ms. Drake opened the first hospital in Ellwood City on the corner of Seventh Street and Crescent Avenue in 1913. The ten bed hospital operated in the former residence of the prominent resident H.S. Blatt and only had one doctor. In 1917, Ellwood City celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for a new hospital facility that would be able to accommodate up to 25 patients. The large brick building would open in 1918 with a grand view overlooking the town from Border Avenue.
In 1943, the Mary Evans Maternity Hospital was opened on another hillside overlooking the town on Evans Drive. The hospital was named after the mother of D.A. and J.A. Evans, who donated the land to the Ellwood City Hospital Board. the old hospital on Border Avenue continued to operate until 1973 when Mary Evans was expanded into a modern medical complex with an emergency room and variety of diagnostic and surgical services. The original maternity hospital was converted into the Mary Evans Long-Term Care Center.
Along with Dr. Drake and the Evans brothers (who both served many years on the Hospital Board), Frank Moore was an important part of the Hospital in the early years. Mr. Moore was the head man at Mathews Conveyer from the time it arrived in Ellwood City in 1912 until he passed away in 1954, and he had served as the hospital board president since its incorporation meeting in 1915.
The “old hospital” on the hill is still standing today and an assisted living center operates there today. The historic house on crescent Avenue’s fate was not as fortunate as it was eventually torn down in the 1960′s when Crescent Place was built.
Did a couple days stay in the Ellwood City hospital “on the hill” in the 1950′s. Scarlett Fever was a big deal then. I had “Scarletina” (sp?) which was some lessor version of the illness. Had my tonsil out there too, ice cream included. Showed my wife the hospital turned nursing home when last in Ellwood City in 2001.
Nice to know Mary Evans was originally built as a maternity hospital. At 10:30 a.m. on 2 July 1946, I arrived in Ellwood City, was taken home to Hazel Avenue, and to this day I am still feeling like one of its most priveleged citizens.
I think that just about all of the people from Ellwood thats on hear was born at Mary Evans I was i made my debute june 4 1946 NS I agree with Dave we are very priveleged to be born or lived in Ellwood
Well, I was born in the EC Hospital, Dr. Sumner brought me into this world. Dr. Sumner’s son, Tom, and I graduated together in 1960. Small world. I had stitches twice when we lived on 10th street (those 3 apartments on an angle.) My grandfather, Charlie Turner owned that property. Don’t know if I was taken to the hospital or a drs. office. It was before I was in kindergartin at the West End School.
As a girl scout to earn a badge I worked at the EC Hospital where the boutique(not sure of name) Another good memory
I was born in the EC hospitaal with the help of Dr Milton Caplan. My wife was born in the EC hospital with the help of Dr Aaron Caplan. Our first child was born in Mary Evans Maternity, and was the first child of the second generation for Dr Aaron Caplan. I tried to name him Maz because he was born a few days after Bill Mazerwoski’s home run, but that didn’t go over too well with my wife.
I was born at Mary Evans in September of 1946. My wife was born there in April of that year. I am surpised that the hospital was opened in 1943 because I was always told the first babies were born there around January of 1946. I live and learn. Thanks
My grandparents, Ralph and Helen Thompson lived in the old house at 7th and Crescent Avenue in the 1950s. About 2 years ago I was visiting the Historical Society in Ellwood and saw a picture of the house. I believe my grandparents moved to Hazel Avenue in 1954.
I too made the Mary Evans arrival from Dr. Helling on Sept 29, 1946. One of the first of the baby boomers.
Hello Bob, I have you by one month August 27th, 19 and 46.
Hey Bob & Dale,
I beat you both on arrival at Mary Evans June 6, 1946, compliments of my great uncle Dr. H.E. Helling!
June the 4th 1946 i came into Ellwood by way of Mary Evans
Gee, all of you above, you’re all babies. I was born Nov. 29, 1942 at the EC Hospital. What’s really strange is, that when I needed my birth certificate the hospital had no record of my birth. I had to contact the New Castle Courthouse or some place for the records. And thank goodness they had it.
All of the 1946 babies listed above were born in Mary Evans. Was anyone born there before 1946 , when I was told it started, and if not what was it from 1943 until 46. My guess might be it took a while to build during WWII because of lack of building supplies. ????
I have all of you beat that were born in 1946, I was born in January of 1946.
There is an interesting trend here, one I certainly have not seen before. It started with Linda Turner’s challenge and ending with Sharon Tritt’s comment. Ever seen folks fighting to be the oldest arrival? And how about the fact that the best of the fighters are all female? Usually it is the ladies who try to hide their age. I don’t mind being younger, but it gives me great satisfaction to be a month ahead of Dale’s and two months ahead of Jim Hardie’s arrival in Ellwood City. Danny John beat the three of us, arriving in June. Bob Stevenson may be older than Jim Hardie, but we don’t know what day Jim decided to show up in September. So far, for 1946 as the first Baby Boomer year, Sharon Tritt wins coming into this world in January and holds the number 1 slot on the charts. I’m like Jim and would like to know what went on prior to our arrival. Who knew the boom was coming and got the chile dogs cooking at Pee Wee’s, reeled up the double feature films at the Manos and Majestic, and told the yo-yo man when to show up at Charlie Ricardi’s store?
I arrived on 9/15/46 with little fanfare. It was as quick as I could get there being 9 months and one week after my parents got married. My mother would always add “He was 2 weeks early” Our friend Art Bable was born early in 47 and was probably the youngest of our class.
Dave, I am so happy that I am not the only North Sider who remembers the yo-yo man by Ricardi’s store. He would have us all standing there amazed (with mouths full of penny candy from the store) while he did tricks with all the different Duncan yo-yos he wanted us to buy. The “butterfly” was the best for tricks, but I always had my eye on the sleek black model studded with rhinestones. Pretty snazzy!
Hello Carol ny two uncles (Ken & Robert) families and Grandmother Brown lived in the 400 block of Hazel Avenue. Uncle Ken still lives in his house these many years and Aunt Betsy still lives in the “Brown Homestead”. Uncle Ken purchased his cutrent house from Norman Larson when he was transferred. That was the connection to Dave Larson. We used to go to Charlie’s Store all the time and the trick I remember about the yoyo man was him putting the yoyo “to sleep”. I did buy one but could not do as well at the tricks as he did. Charlie was kind of grumpy from time to time but his wife Emma was always nice and took time with us kids. We used to go a little store on Orchard Ave.as well “Nodeo’s” (sp?) we used to call her “Minnie 3 Hairs” for she was nearly bald. But she was great with us as well and had tons of penny candy. 50 cents would buy a big bag of afternoon candy. Some names of that time are Curt & Paul Latshaw, Bob “Fats” Straw, Joan Straw, Kappy looney, Bill & John Paganie, Ralph Newton, Pula Ameen, The Pistachio Brothers, Gail Porter, Janine McConahy, Carol Colendrillo, Clyde & Pual Houk. Jim Hardie, Bob Ramella, Dick Craig, Bob Latiano, Grump Franz, Billy Joe Rutter. Great memories!
Dale…thanks for the names! Add Mr. Denison. He lived in the house next to your Uncle Robert and the Latshaws. My dad rented Mr. Denison’s garage at the intersection of the two alleys. At Halloween, Mr. Denison would invite you inside to “trick or treat” as his interpretation of the event was that you needed to do something to get candy. Dance. Sing a song. Perform!
Carol…I’m remembering you as being blonde and tall. Like Dale, I remember putting the yo-yo to sleep trick. Charlie’s daughter Judy got peeps one year for easter. They grew into chickens. Charlie penned them up out by his outdoor fireplace, between it and Ken Brown’s garage. He used to burn cardboard boxes out there and one day forgot about the chickens. Opps.
Minnie 3 Hairs…what a memory you have, Dale! Bob Straw had an insurance agency down on Wampum Avenue. Next to him was Mike DeLoia and family. Mike was a Navy veteran who served on Guadalcanal. Between Mike and your Uncle Ken were the Beiseckers (sp). Nice ladies, sisters who drove a samon and cream two-tone 1954 Pontiac. Its place in the GM hierarchy and the color combination has stuck in my memory as pure class for all these years.
Dale, last time I saw your Uncle Ken and family was 1991, on my way to a Pearl Harbor Army Air Corps squadron reunion in Ohio. I remember asking Ken “where did you live prior to going into the Army Air Corps in 1942?” He answered “down the street in the house my brother Robert lives in” and before that “out on the Brown Hill.” He’s lived on the North Side longer than you and I have drawn breath. Your uncle is referenced in Ernie Pyle’s book “Brave Men.” His heroics in a B-26 Marauder, coming back from a mission over France circa 6 June 1944, is memorialized in a book entitled “Marauder Men”.
Memories? Yes. So deep they are a foundation for goodness, and reverance.
Dave…I am still blonde (okay, there is some gray too) but was never very tall. Maybe most of the elementary school girls seemed tall compared to the boys. You have a remarkable memory!
Ricardi’s candy store was one of my favorite stops after school. Wax lips and teeth…I can still remember the smell and taste. Little wax bottles with sweet liquid inside. Long ribbons of black licorice wrapped around a tiny ball of hard, red candy. Can’t forget the Double Bubble gum either.
Carole…I remember that black licorice wrapped in a roll. The wax lips and teeth too. The bubble gum…I am thinking the ones with the comic inside. How ’bout this…the chocolate cigarettes…chocolate candy inside cigarette paper (or so it seemed). Great memories…thanks, and hope you are well. Dave
I remember all the goodies Carole & Dave are talking about, but I bought mine at Willie’s at 5th & Bell Ave. down the street from Lincoln. I think the name of the Double Bubble game was Bazooka (or is that some other gum?) It’s feen a FEW years. Great memories. I used to buy Luden’s Cherry cough drops even if I didn’t have a cough or cold. They were so sweet.
I remember buying comic books and candy at Mallery’s (Mallory’s?) newspaper stand on the northeast corner of the north side bridge. A favorite candy of mine was Chunky (“what a chunk of chocolate!” per ad).
I have the same memories of Charlies. Carole, when you described the red lips I had a flashback to you on the playground wearing those lips. Must be an active imagination but I see it as clear as day.
I was thinking of all the candy bars that are no longer around: Sky Bars, Necco chocolate wafers, Forever Yours, Baby Ruth, Mars Bar, Power House, Truely Yours, (vaguely remember one of that name), Rocky Road and I’m sure there are others I am forgetting. Clark Bar!!!!!
Candy trivia:
Smith Bros. cough drops, the licorce alternative to Luden’s cherry flavor. Arnold Stang was the guy who told you about Chunky on T.V. Necco stood for New England Candy Company, and when we lived in Maine my wife could buy them! Clark Bar was made in Pittsburgh. They made Zagnut too. Beemans “pepsin” chewing gum is still around. Saw it at CVS in what I call “nostalgic” candy end-cap displays. My favorite…Turkish Taffey…is no longer around. You could use that stuff for a shoe sole insert, or break it into pieces by smashing it on the counter. These are great memories you all have triggered. I miss the ads!
Dave…..much of this candy is still manufactured and available including the Clark Bar, Zagnut, Chunky and Turkish Taffey. Do a Google search on “old time or vintage candy” and you will find several sources. Good luck.
Hank, you are absolutely right. Thanks for the suggestion. Bonomo Turkish Taffy is available on line. And so is something I had forgotten…my favorite potato chip from my youth in Ellwood City…Snyder of Berlin (PA) “Original” potato chips. They came in a shiney aluminum sack and are still made south of Pgh. Wishing you and all of our fellow contributors to Ben Davis’ site a “Happy Thanksgiving!”
Do any of you remember Chuckles “the gel candy that makes you smile”? I order those from The Vermont Country magazine. They also have many of the other candies mentioned. They have many items from long ago that I have ordered – wax caroller candles & etc.
Linda
I get their catalog too! They have so much cool stuff! Some of the candies, I haven’t seen in years! And they taste just like I remember them from years ago!
By the way, The double bubble gum was made by Fleers and they featured a little cartoon with each piece. The central character was pud. And yes, Linda,Willie’s was where all of us who lived around where you and I did, bought it
My sister and I were the 2nd set of twins born at mary evans. 3-22-46 I believe the Patton twins were first by a few months. Bob, It was Willies first then Kaufmans (if I remember correctly) By the way to those who knew us (Donna and I) I lost her Nov 2,2011. Take care I really enjoy this site.
Hello Donald, I just found out what a small world it is, your brother in law and I belong to the same bagpipe band. I just found this out in the past couple of weeks. Sorry for your loss! Dale
I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your sister, Donald. I remember you well and of the times you stopped by my house and we visited on the front steps.Do you still live in the E.C. area (I’m in Arizona).
To Dale Brown; Yes Ken told me, it is a small world. He even told me that you even sat at the same table with her at some function. To JoAnn (Miller) Oxen; I’m in Muncie, In. been here for 30 years. Thanks for your well wishes, you can contact me at d.anderson33@yahoo.com (if allowed) I remember sitting on those front steps (Glen Ave?) Don
looking at the picture of the hospital at the top of this page really brings back a lot of memories for me, I was in 10th grade, went sledding with Dennis Barto off of 6th St between Franklin and Division Ave. when I broke my right leg. Was in the hospital for a couple of weeks and remember sitting in that sun parlor watching all the kids going to school (wishing I could be down there). Petes Ambulance came to get me and the first person up the hill was Derek (Pip) Stevenson but he had to go back down, seems he forgot the stretcher. LOL
Id like to make a correction, our birthdate was 3-22-45 not 46
I was born at Mary Evans Maternity Hosp on 3/13/1959, with Dr. Sumner attending. My birth mother was 22 and was born in Germany, and was not married at the time. I was adopted and brought home by my parents when discharged.
I see from all the comments that everyone seems to know everyone and where they lived, played and worked. Is there someone who could help me solve the mystery of my birth?
Thanks!
Joe